Moblin 2.0 Released, Intel's Linux For Netbooks

eldavojohn writes "Yesterday, Moblin, the joint OS project between Novell and Intel, was released as V2.0 Beta for netbooks with the image available for download. We've talked about Moblin before, but Computer World has an article speculating this is Intel's direct affront to Microsoft's Windows 7 by pointing out that Moblin is designed to optimally use Intel's Atom Processor and smaller screens so popular with netbooks. Windows 7's netbook competition doesn't stop there, as GoodOS's gOS3 Gadgets and Canonical's Ubuntu Netbook Remix are being designed to also take advantage of Intel's Atom, especially from a UI perspective. Ars has a look at Moblin's rich new UI as well. Back in April, Intel said it would support Windows 7 on the Atom later this year, and Intel also says Windows 7 is a good choice for Intel's netbooks, so it doesn't look like they're intentionally burning any bridges between them and Redmond."

Duh.

[Jurily]

that Moblin is designed to optimally use Intel's Atom Processor and smaller screens so popular with netbooks.

I for one, welcome our new optimized-for-the-fucking-device-they-sell-it-with overlords.

Another typical Slashdot microsoft bash.

[Digital Pizza]

How about a summary that describes the new Moblin release (what the post is ostensibly about), rather than focusing on the competition against Win7? How about being FOR something (Moblin in this case), rather than always being against Microsoft?

I'm no fan of Microsoft, but seriously, the one-note, constant Microsoft bashing on this site is getting old.

Re:Another typical Slashdot microsoft bash.

[Anonymous Coward]

bash ms all day. long time slashdot lurker here. I hadn't heard about moblin until I read this article (and subsequently the ars technica article w/ screens), so it served its purpose for me.

What does the processor...

[jeffliott]

...have to do with the interface really? My understanding is that most netbook builds tweak disk and UI related functions which hardly have any relevance to the processor. The summary implies that these non-Moblin builds have optimizations/customizations that improve the function with the Intel Atom processor, but I'm guessing this is not yet true. Naturally, the customized UIs have been an awesome improvement for the netbooks, but that would be true regardless of Intel's Atom Processor.

Re:How, exactly

[cant_get_a_good_nick]

The same way 'NetBurst' was to make your Internet surfing faster....

I still remember when Dilbert was 'Optimized for Intel', basically added a useless java app to slow the page for anyone on a slower CPU. I lost some respect for Adams on that one, though i'm not sure how much he was consulted.

Re:Another typical Slashdot microsoft ksh.

[Tetsujin]

How about a summary that describes the new Moblin release (what the post is ostensibly about), rather than focusing on the competition against Win7? How about being FOR something (Moblin in this case), rather than always being against Microsoft?

I'm no fan of Microsoft, but seriously, the one-note, constant Microsoft bashing on this site is getting old.

OK, what "Microsoft bashing"?

These products (Moblin, Windows 7, etc.) are in competition with one another in the netbook market. If Moblin achieves some level of success in the netbook market, that reduces the number of netbooks sold with Windows 7. So, the summary states (quite correctly) that this system is a threat to Windows in the netbook market. Any well-packaged system optimized for the platform would be. It's just a fact.

It's the apps.

[Anonymous Coward]

The Linux world is fractured, meaning that a single binary will only work on a small fraction of all Linux distros. Windows is binary compatible across its desktops. OS X is binary compatible across its desktops. Without a unified market,

Weird

[Anonymous Coward]

Weird.

Here you are, cheering for a company that just got massive fines from the EU. Strange bedfellows.

I hope your new overloads serve you well. But do not count on it. Lessons learned from the other monopoly you so fiercely oppose?

Devil's children have the devil's luck.

I smell something big brewing.......

[Dega704]

At least a couple times a week I see a new article by some journalist rambling on about how linux will never take off and we will all pay homage to Microsoft for the rest of our lives, but just look at the efforts being put into linux by some of the biggest players. IBM, Intel, Dell, and HP just off the top of my head. It seems to me like they all very much want it to thrive. And why wouldn't they? Their fates have been defined by Microsoft for two decades now. I can only imagine how enticing linux must seem to them. An OS they can mold into whatever they need it to be without having to pay licensing fees to anyone. Don't get me wrong, I'm no anti-Microsoft zealot and I think windows is here to stay, but the mono-culture hit it's peak with XP. The biggest thing holding linux back from being a major contender is figuring out how to ween users off of windows, and Moblin is just the latest experiment on how it can be done. The next couple of years will be very interesting.

Re:As the Unedited Submitter ...

[Anonymous Coward]

So when I mentioned gOS3 and Ubuntu Netbook Remix, that was offensive to them because I was comparing Moblin to them ... ? You have not convinced me of anything at all.

One more thing:

"Hey, look, Intel released a new OS for netbooks. Take a look."

Oh that doesn't sound like a Slashvertisement? Someone got modded highly for criticizing the story is just "intel makes something" [slashdot.org] which is not a story.

Re:netbook opportunity squandered

[itsdapead]

When the eee PC came out, Linux had a big opportunity.

I think the original EEE PC must be the most successful failure ever. People bought them by the shedload (including me) and raved about them, until it became obvious that they were as much practical use as a chocolate teapot. A very, very cute chocolate teapot maybe, and one that hadn't cost enough to get angry about, but not really a lot of use.

The problem wasn't necessarily Linux - its the hardware: the screen was just too small for running desktop software or full-size websites (iPod Touch/iPhone and Android do better with less because they have purpose-written GUI and app software) and the battery life is atrocious. Had the thing been able to run for 6 hours on a charge, or the screen had cool pan and zoom features then maybe - but to be honest, mine is just a doorstop that I use to try out new netbook linux distros.

The "success" of the EEE was to convince manufacturers that there was a huge market for small, cheap, laptops - the original was just a bit too small and cheap and drank too much power. Newer generation netbooks look a bit more like it - with better screens and better batteries - but are priced more like entry-level laptops.